Resilient cushion utilizing sideloaded helical springs



Oct. 13, 1953 A. R. SCHULZE 2,655,370

RESILIENT CUSHION UTILIZING SIDE-LOADED HELICAL SPRINGS Original Filed Jan. 25, 1949 FIELQ- Patented Oct. 13, 1953 RESILIENT CUSHION UTILIZING SIDE- LOADED HELICAL SPRINGS Arthur R. Schulze, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Original application January 25, 1949, Serial No.

72,682, now Patent No. 2,525,730, dated October 10, 1950. Divided and this application September 6, 1950, Serial No. 183,348

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a resilient cushion of high capacity at small deflections for general application and, in particular, to a shock-absorbing mounting or cushion which employs a coil spring or springs subjected to side loading.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 72,652, filed January 25, 1949, which has issued as Patent No. 2,525,730, granted October 10, 1950.

Metal springs of several types are widely used for resiliently supporting heavy loads and cushioning impact, e. g., axially loaded coil springs, leaf springs and torsion springs. Since the force exerted by a spring is proportional to its unit deflection, it is not difficult to make springs for heavy loads where large deflections are permissible. When the deflection is limited to the order of a fraction of an inch, however, conventional springs must be of large size and weight to support heavy loads and their cost is correspondingly great. As a result, other material such as wood padding or blocking, pads of rubber or laminated fabric impregnated with rubber, or a plurality of thin metal sheets indented or embossed, have come into use as resilient cushions. Such materials, however, lack the durability of conventional springs.

I have invented a resilient cushion for supporting heavy loads at small deflections which overcomes the aforementioned objections by utilizing helical springs in a novel manner, i. e., by subjecting them to side loading instead of axial loading. The resistance of a helical spring to deflection under side loading is higher than its resistance under axial loading and is proportional to the number of turns of the helix so that it may easily be made sufficient to carry very heavy loads Without exceeding reasonable limits of size or weight. When a helical spring is loaded axially, its capacity is the force required fully to deflect a single turn. Increasing the turns increases the permissible deflection but not the capacity. The converse is true, however, in the case of side loading since each turn carries its share of the load independently of the other turns. I take advantage of this fact to provide a high-capacity spring mounting for loads requiring only small deflections. Under side loading, each 180-arc of the helix between the diametrically opposite points of load application and support acts as a separate spring of the bow type and a large capacity is thus obtainable with a relatively small spring. For example, a spring 2" long composed of 5 turns of steel wire wound in a helix 1%" outside diameter, is compressed to solid condition (i. e., a deflection of 1 under an axial load of 87 pounds but will sustain a laterally applied load of 4500 pounds with a deflection of only /8".

My improved resilient cushion has peculiar advantages for installations where lateral move ment of the load relative to the support is desirable or necessary. To this end, I mount the spring in the manner of a bearing roller. The surfaces of the load and support in contact with the spring may be plane when such movement is considerable but preferably have grooves serving as seats for the sides of the spring. When only limited lateral movement is required, the grooves may be flat-bottomed but where it is desirable that the load resist lateral movement or be self-centering, i. e., that it return to a normal position after lateral displacement, the grooves should have a section which is an arc of a circle or other curve. Where lateral movement of the load is unnecessary, the supporting springs may be arranged at an angle to each other. The spring seating grooves, furthermore may be shaped so that each engages the spring at a pair of spaced points instead of at the bottom of the groove only. This increases the load ca paoity for a given deflection.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating an elementary embodiment and modifications thereof. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a resilient cushion according to the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are views similar to Figure 1 showing modifications;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are comparative views similar to Figure 3 showing the effect of varying the curvature of the seating grooves;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a further modification;

Figure 8 is a partial'plan view of a resilient cushion employing side-loaded springs disposed at an angle to each other, the load-applying member being omitted for clearness; and

Figure 9 is a partial section taken on line IX-IX of Figure 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings and for the present to Figure l, a load-applying member ID is carried on a supporting member ll by means of a helical spring l2 disposed on its side therebetween. The members I!) and l l preferably have bearing members l3 formed thereon or separately formed and secured thereto which engage the turns of the spring tangentially at substantially diametrically opposite points. It will be course, is accompanied by rolling ofthespring between the surfaces 13 in the mannerof a bearing roller. While the portions-of. the turns which are stressed vary with lateral movement, the degree of deformation varies only with the vertical load. For the purpose of"illustration,' thedeformation has been shownfito a considerably exaggerated degree in the drawings.

Figure 2 shows a slight modification in which members l3 have seating grooves M formed-din their opposed faces, thebottorns of the grooves having tangential engagement with-the turns-of thehelical spring i2. The bottoms'of the grooves is are fiat in the mid-portion thereof-and thus permit considerable free lateral movementof the load relative to the support. The sides of the grooves are ona slope. The degree'o'fsuclrmovement, however, is limited'to one-half the widt of the-flat bottomof theggrooves as indicated by the chain line position :ofthe vupper bearing surface I4.

Figure 3 shows'a further' modification:irrwhich bearing members have-seating groovesit in their. opposed surfaces for receiving the spring I2. A section through the grooves is a circular arc.of radius greater than that oft-he spring. This construction; permits limited lateral movement of the load but such movement/ is resisted by the 'spring'because it. requires deformation thereof. .As a result, there'is a constant tendency to restore the load towcentered; position relative to the support. The formsof 'oushion shown :in Figure 3,,therefore, differs from those? shown in Figures 1 andZ. .Lateral imovement =of the load inFigure. l.causes no'zdeformation "of the spring while thegrooves l4 ofsFigure =2 permit limited lateral movement without :ideformation' of the spring until .it engages the slopingusides of the grooves, and the form showniinfiguret causes deformation of..the spring iimmediately 'on the occurrence of lateral movement, The deformation :caused by lateralmove-menit'of'course, is in addi-- tion to that resulting from the vertical load.

Figures .4. throughtfi: further. illustrate theresistance afforded .by a cushion'such as that of Figure 3 tola'teral movement. iFigure etshows substantially the same type zof '.cushion illustratedinFigur-e' 3 except' that t'he radius of cur- 'vature ofthe seating grooves'll ofFig-u-red is greater than that of the-grooveidinTigure 3. On lateral movement of the upper bearing'member [5 from the solid-line position to the "dotted- 7 line position, thespring rolls up the sides of the grooves in members [5, causing "an increase in the deformation of the springrepr'esented by the difference betweendtsdiameterin the iniit permits a limited relatively free lateral movement between members l3.

Figure 5 shows a construction similar to Figure4 except that the radius oftheseating grooves 5 2| is. greater than thatv of "the: grooves IT. This permits a correspondingly greater degree of lateral movement, indicated at 22, with the same increase in the deformation of the spring 12.

Figure 6 shows a cushion having seating imgroovesirwith a radius of curvature smaller than the-grooves I! :in Figure 4. As a result, the :lateral movement-of the load necessary to effect the-same'rin'creaseiin deformation of the spring as inFigures 4 and 5 is only the distance indils cat'ed' at'2'4. "'Inall three cases illustrated in Figuresea through'fi there is rolling movement of thespring between the opposed bearing surfaces to the extent of one-half the travel of the load. Figure? shows a further modification in which hearing members have'grooves 25 in their opposed: faces iwhich' are" V'-sha'ped, at least in the portions-thereof 'en'ga'ging- -thespring l2. Ac- 'tuallyg the'groovesifi have round bottoms, as shown at 21, but the 1 shape of this portion -fof 25 the grooves is'immate'rial. The essential feature of the-construction "of Figure Visthateach bearing member engages the spring turns at two points 28- in'stead of atsubstantially a single point, as in the case of the modifications pre- 30 viously described. 'This increases the capacity of the cushion by shortening-the arc of the spring turn between the points at which corresponding portions of the grooves of the two bearing surfaces engage the turns. -As a'result, the bowsprings, i.'e.,the"-portioris of the spring turns which defiectund'erload are shorter and stiffer, being 'lessthan a half-circumference of the turn as in the casesdescribedabove.

Figures B -and 9 show a further modification 40 which a load '29 iscar'rid on a support 30 by a pluralityofsp'rings disposed at an angle, two such-springs beingillustrated at SI and 32. The load and 'supporthave spring seating grooves 33. The load 'ZQhas a sealing flange 34 attached 545 thereto closing the space between it and thesupport to protect the springs against the entrance of foreign matter. The arrangement'shown in Figure"9,'-ofcourseyaifords cushioning of vertical loads only 'but'does not permit lateral movement of the 'load relative to'the support.

It will 'be'apparent that the cushion of -my invention inthe 'various'fornis illustrated and described is characterizedby'numerous advantages. Inthe 'first place, it provides a resilient cushion of large capacitywhich is very compact and employs relatively inexpensive springs. In addition; the cushion may be made to permit lateral movementof the load, with or without selfcentering. The cushion of my invention is adapt able to a wide variety of industrial applications amongwhich the following'may be mentioned:

ct. The 'isolationof rotating or"reciprocating machinery'to -reduce theniag'nitude of oscillating forces transmitted to "adjacent structures,

such as'from highspeedpunchpresses; forming,

coining, stamping and heading machines;

"b. The reduction of impact blows onto foundations-and the transmission of-vibrations to surrounding processes "and: structures from reciproeating machinery; such as steam and board hammers; jolt inoldi'ng machines, forging presses, etc;

o. The reductionof starting or shock forces or 15 impacts within r citating or reciprocating machinery and equipment, such as in jaw or universal couplings, positive clutches, etc.; and

d. The reduction of impact blows and vibrations in or by mobile equipment such as street railway cars, railroad passenger cars, cranes, etc., utilizing the invention to provide built-in resilience in the supporting wheels and structures.

The springs employed in the cushion of my invention may be formed from any suitable stock, i. e., round, square with round corners or flat, as desired. The two latter are preferable because they afiord greater bearing area, thus reducing unit pressure at the points of contact with the seats on the bearing surfaces. These seats may be hardened by a flame or other treatment, to adapt them to withstand heavy pressures involved. The springs may be wound with a constant pitch or may have a reduced pitch with several turns at each end. The springs may be used straight or may be bent into an arc if the seating grooves in the bearing surfaces of the load and support happen to have such shape as in the case of car wheels. The springs may be made of corrosion-resistant wire where exposed to the elements in service.

Although I have illustrated and described several modifications of the resilient cushion of my invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details and arrangement illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a resilient cushion for absorbing shock or vibration, a supporting member, a load-applying member spaced therefrom, alined grooves in the adjacent surfaces of said members, respectively, said grooves having fiat sides substantially at right angles to each other, and a helical spring disposed between said members, seated in said grooves and engaging said sides.

2. In a resilient cushion for absorbing shock or vibration, a supporting member, a load-applying member spaced therefrom, alined grooves in the adjacent surfaces of said members, respectively, said grooves being V-shaped in cross-section with rounded bottoms, and a helical spring disposed between said members, seated in said grooves and engaging the sides of the grooves.

ARTHUR R. SCHULZE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 803,235 Jordan Oct. 31, 1905 814,077 Prendergast Mar. 6, 1906 1,154,912 Drahonovsky Sept. 28, 1915 1,460,869 Thropp July 3, 1923 1,865,457 Cruz July 5, 1932 2,154,275 Tinn Apr. 11, 1939 2,359,036 Harper Sept. 26, 1944 2,414,506 Bowen Jan. 21, 1947 2,525,730 Schulze Oct. 10, 1950 2,570,742 Zeidler Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 575,839 France Apr. 30, 1924 

